Archaeology Notes

Event ID 693700

Category Descriptive Accounts

Type Archaeology Notes

Permalink http://canmore.org.uk/event/693700

NO88NE 1 8529 8565.

(NO 8529 8566) St Ciaran's Church (NR) (In Ruins)

OS 6" map, (1938)

The ruins of the former parish church of Fetteresso, dedicated in Mat 1246 and used until 1813, probably stand on the site of the church of St Ciaran (515-549).

The greater part of the church seems to have been re-built in the second half of the 17th century, although the NW doorway and portions of the N wall adjoining appear to belong to the 13th or 14th century.

The walls and gables are still preserved and measure internally, 81ft by 17 1/2ft. A wing thrown out on the north bears the date 1720, and a small adjunct on the west of this is dated 1857. The belfry, in which the bell still hangs, is dated 1737.

The interior of the church is used as a private burial ground.

New Statistical Account (NSA) 1845; D MacGibbon and T Ross 1896-7; J B Burnett 1986; W J Watson 1926.

The church is as described above, except that the bell has been removed. It is known locally as St Ciaran's Church - this being the accepted spelling.

Visited by OS (R D) 28 July 1965.